Bloomberg Hong Kong’s leader suspended efforts to pass a bill allowing extraditions to China, in a dramatic reversal that she said was necessary to restore order in the Asian financial hub and avoid further violence and mass protests. Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, announced the legislative “pause†at a news conference on Saturday, even as activists asked hundreds of ...
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Tory rivals plot to stop Johnson from winning
Bloomberg Rivals to be Britain’s next prime minister are holding private talks over joining forces in an attempt to stop the pro-Brexit favourite, Boris Johnson, running away with the contest, people familiar with the matter said. Two of the candidates who are struggling for support — Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Health Secretary Matt Hancock — met to discuss their ...
Read More »Trump boasts ‘other countries pay for his priorities’
Bloomberg Whether it’s an immigration deal with Mexico, a new base for US soldiers in Poland or tariffs on Chinese imports, what’s important to Donald Trump is that some other country will pay the bill. The US president has repeatedly boasted this month that the costs of various agreements he’s struck will either be born by foreigners or will be ...
Read More »The fate of Japan — and everyone else
If you want a peek at the future, try looking at Japan. It’s a sobering exercise. Here’s how economist Timothy Taylor, managing editor of Journal of Economic Perspectives, describes country’s outlook: “[Japan] is facing a situation of a declining population and workforce, and the share of the population that is elderly is on the rise. [This is] driving up government ...
Read More »China’s hidden debt gets riskier
In China, debt takes many shapes – on the books, off the books, or buried deep within the financial system. Now, debt can even be considered equity. In a bid to boost the economy, China announced it would allow local governments to borrow more to fund infrastructure investment. As part of this push, it will let municipalities use the proceeds ...
Read More »In M&A, no one can hear the bankers scream
At first glance, it looks like dealmaking is booming in the US and dead in Europe. Contrast United Technologies Corp.’s blockbuster tie-up with fellow defense contractor Raytheon Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s decision to pull out of talks with Renault SA. The reality is more that transactions are getting harder everywhere as protectionism mixes with trustbusters and awkward shareholders. ...
Read More »Maybe Carlos Ghosn wasn’t so bad after all
Is the Renault-Nissan Alliance stronger than the man who led it for two decades? The omens don’t look good. The downfall of Carlos Ghosn over allegations of financial misconduct has opened up a Pandora’s Box of Franco-Japanese political hostility, grudges and pressure tactics – supposedly all in the name of “strengthening†the 20-year alliance. For all Ghosn’s flaws and delusions ...
Read More »India’s economy is in crisis after reduced GDP estimate
India’s government has long claimed that the country is one of the fastest-growing large economies in the world. That boast was a crucial part of the ruling party’s message in India’s recent election campaign — that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the economy was in safe hands. Competence and sincerity as an economic manager is central to the image Modi ...
Read More »Turmoil in Italy means nothing to financial traders
It was surprising timing for Italy to announce a 20-year syndicated bond just as Spain was bringing a 6 billion euro ($6.8 billion) 10-year issue on the same day. This is doubly true when you consider that both Germany and Portugal have regular 10-year auctions as well on June 12– more so when Italy itself has a scheduled sale of ...
Read More »Trump’s actions disdain postwar architecture
President Trump spoke the right words in commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day, but did he mean them? So far, his presidency has been about defying the postwar order that was based on shared values and global partnership, rather than cementing its legacy. Trump spoke at what he rightly described as “freedom’s altar,†the burial site for nearly 10,000 Americans ...
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